Matt

That was all she said.

Day five was the day we made the decision that we should leave.

And the day we realized leaving wasn't as simple as getting in a car and driving away.

We'd come for a week.

This was supposed to be the go out into the outdoors part.

The irony is we were barely leaving the property anymore.

We were prisoners of our own respect and fear.

By midday, Jonah was pacing.

Lila was quiet in that way people get when they're trying not to cry in front of others.

Maren was glued to her aunt and uncle, listening for cues.

I was tired and angry at myself for recording everything but feeling powerless.

We sat down with her aunt and uncle, all of us, in a straight conversation.

It wasn't dramatic, it was practical.

Maren said, ''We think it's better if we go.''

Her uncle nodded immediately, like he'd been waiting for us to say it so he wouldn't have to.

Her aunt hesitated a fraction, then nodded too, but her eyes were sad, not offended, like she was watching something she couldn't protect us from.

Her uncle said, Jonah asked, I asked because I couldn't help it.

Is it a person?

Her uncle looked at me for a long time.

Then he said,